US548914A - Ezra n - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. N. GIFFORD. GAB. GOUPLING.

No. 548,914. Y]:"aJte111;ed Oct. 29?` 1895.

UNrrnn f STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA N. VGIFFOR'D, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM GILCHRIST, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 548,914, dated October 29, 1895. Application iiled July 29, 1895. .Serial No. 557,467.. (No model.)

To all whom it 7am/y concern.-

Beit known that I, EZRA N. GIFFORD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a car-coupler of the general class known as the Master Oar-Builders type, wherein certain difficulties which have existed in all car-cou plers ot' that class heretofore devised shall be wholly obviated; also, to accomplish this end in the simplest possible manner and with the smallest number of parts possible, and also to have the construction and arrangement of parts of exceptional strength and durability, easily operated, and prompt, certain, and effective in their action.

. The nature of my improvements will be readily understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a horizontal section of my device, showing the operating parts in coupled position; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the operating parts in uncoupled position; Fig. 3, a similar view showing the operative parts `also in unconpled position, but with the uncoupling cam-lever at the extreme outer limit of lts throw after having opened the knuckle; Fig. V4, a vertical cross-section taken on the line 4: of Fig. l and viewed in the directionof the arrow; Fig. 5, a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 5 of Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 6, a detached bottom plan view of the knuckle; and Fig. 7, a detached broken view, partly in section, of the uncoupling cam-lever and the' arm attached thereto for throwing it into and out of operative position.

A is the draw-bar, and B the draw-bar head, bifurcated,as usual, to form the recessed jaws t and s, between and within which the principal operating parts are mounted. The upper jaw t is provided with a sectoral opening r and the lower jaw s with a sectoral opening q of similar form, provided on its rear side' with an inclined spiral shoulder p, forming the short section of a screwlplane.' The upper sectoral opening is provided with a spiral iunder surface with a cam-recess t'.

shoulder p', corresponding with the shoulder p in the lower opening. Extending vertically through the openings last described is a barv C of peculiar construction, which serves as the lock and which constitutes in its association with other parts one of the leading features of my invention. This bar is provided at its upper end with a handle 0 and head n and toward its lower end below the lower jaw causing the bar to turn for acer-tain distance upon its longitudinalaxis both in rising and falling. On the other hand it will be obvious that by reason of the shoulders referred to a turning action exerted upon the bar C must incidentally cause it to rise or descend, as the case may be. About midway o f the height of the bar C and toward the front face thereof is a beveled projection D, the upper and lower faces k and 7c of which are sections of con'- trary screw-planes, as shown. The purpose of this projection will appear hereinafter.'

E is the knuckle, pivotally mounted in the forward end of the head in the usual way, and

tongue or locking-arm has its outer corner cut I away, as shown at j, and is provided on its Intermediate between the knuckle E and the lock C is the uncoupling cam-lever F, which is pivotedat about its center through the lower jaw s by means of a spindle h, upon the lower end of which, below the lower jaw s, isv rigidly mounted the curved arm G. To the outer end of the arm G the uncoupling hand-lever H is pivotally connected, and this lever is tobe understood as sliding in one or more suitableA guides on the car, as may be desired. The

'end of the uncoupling cam-lever F which yis IOO the knuckle E, and its opposite end with two notehesf and f', the function of which is to engage the locking-bar C in certain positions, as will be hereinafter described.

In order that the operation of my improved coupler may be clearly understood, let the parts be supposed to be in the position shown in Fig. 1 and that it is desired to uncouple and place the parts in position for automatic recoupling. In this figure it will be seen the knuckle E is not only in coupled position, but

is also securely locked there by reason of the fact that the curved edgej of the locking-arm is in engagement with the abutting curved face e of the locking-bar, from which it cannot be released except by turning the locking-bar out of abutting position. It will be seen that, theoretically, the locking-bar at the edge farthest from its abutting edge merely rocks in the operation of turning against the narrow end of the sectoral openings, though practically it has more or less play at this point, since its fits somewhat loosely. On the other hand, the abutting or locking edge in the operation of turning passes through the whole or a large part of the arc described by the wide end of the sectoral opening. The turning of the locking-bar can only take place in conjunction with the incidental rising of the locking-bar by reason of the spiral shoulders Zandp, hereinbefore referred to, and this fact is taken advantage of to give still further security to the locking through the medium of the beveled projection D,havingspiral faces-that is to say, when in locked position the side of the lower portion of this projection bears against the upper edge of the locking-arm of the knuckle, and in order to permit the turning of the locking-bar to the position shown in Fig. 2 it is necessary that it be raised sufficiently to permit the lockingarm to clear this projection. The spiral form of the planes Zt 7c of this projection has thus far no function, their function only coming into play in the act of coupling, when the locking arm strikes the locking-bar and clears it by turning and incidentally raising it, as will be hereinafter described. For the purpose of thus turning and lifting 'the locking-bar C the hand-lever H is pulled outward to the position shown in Fig. 2, the presence of the corresponding knuckle upon the other car preventing the further outward throw of the parts. In the absence of any corresponding knuckle in engagement the parts can be thrown tothe position shown in Fig. 3; but obviously in practice this can take place only after the cars have been uncoupled. In throwing the uncoupling camlever F from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 it swings upon its pivot, causing the stud g to describe an arc within the cam-recess of the knuckle without, however, engaging the wall of that cam-recess. Hence the only function performed by the unlocking cam-lever F in that movement is upon the locking-bar C-that is to say, in the movement referred to the inner curved end of the unlocking cam-lever engages the adjacent angle of the locking-bar C and turns that bar to the position shown in Fig. 2, bringing the angle referred to into the notch f. As before explained, the turning of the locking-bar causes it to rise in its bearings by reason of. the fact that the spiral shoulder t upon the locking-bar travels upon the corresponding spiral shoulder p in the draw-bar head, thus carrying the bar out of locked position. The knuckle is then wholly loose upon its pivot, and hence in position for uncoupling. Understanding the uncoupling to have taken place, the knuckle will naturally have assumed the position shown in Fig. 2.

When the knuckle is in the position shown in Fig. 2, it is not only in uncoupled position, but is also in the proper position for switching; but, as has been mentioned, the knuckle at this time swings loosely upon its pivot and cannot be depended upon to remain in that position, but may easily be caused to swing to the position shown in Fig. 1, when rit is not in position for recoupling. Assuming this to have happened, it is necessary that some means be provided for readily restoring it to the proper position for recoupling, and this is done by simply exerting a further pull upon the hand-.lever H, thereby throwing the unlocking camlever to the position shown in Fig. 3. In this movement the stud g of the unlocking cam-lever, which would then be near the inner extremity of the recess t', will travel along the wall of that recess, thus throwing the locking-arm to the position shown in Fig. 2. This done, the unlocking cam-lever may be returned to the position shown in Fig. 2, which leaves the entire device in position to be thrown back to the position shown in Fig. 2 in the act of switching.

To place the parts in proper Vposition for coupling, the hand-lever H must be thrust inward to the position shown in Fig. 1, while the knuckle is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Underthesecircumstancesthe locking-bar C will obviously have the position shown in Fig. 1 Without being in engagement with the locking-arm of the knuckle, and theunlocking cam-lever F will obviously be idle. Then the impact with the knuckle on the other car throws the locking-arm inward, causing it to strike against the edge of the locking-bar C and turn the latter to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 8 for the passage by it of the locking-arm to the position shown in Fig. 1, and as soon as the end of the locking-bar reaches the recessed part j of the locking-arm it falls by vgravity and incidentally turns back to the position shown in Fig. 1, thereby locking the parts in coupled position. From this it will be seen that even without the projection D the locking could be automatically effected; but there is an advantage in not only having the locking-arm operate indirectly to raise the locking-bar by turning it, but also having it IOO IIO

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operate positively to lift the bar by engaging the spiral face 7c on the lower side of the projection D. It is also an advantage to have the upper spiral shoulder lo', which bears against a corresponding rib or shoulder c on the inner wall of' the draw-bar head. The shoulders lo and c act in conjunction with the shoulders p and Z and p and l in guiding the locking-bar both in its rise and descent, thus forming in eect sections at intervals of the same screwplane or parallel screw-planes, and thereby giving strength and stability to the lock as well as forming an accurate spiral guide.

It has already been intimated that the projection D,with its incidental spiral faces, may be omitted. It will also be obvious that one or the other of the remaining spiral engaging parts, preferably the shoulders p and L', may be omitted; but my invention requires some construction by which a spiral shoulder on some portion of the locking-bar shall travel upon a corresponding shoulder in the drawbar head, tothe end hereinbefore explained. As to the sectoral openings in the upper and lower jaws of the bifurcated draw-bar head, it should be observed that the locking-bar passes wholly through both these openings and incidentally in its operation describes a sector. Any form of openings suitable to permit the proper movement of the locking-bar is obviously the equivalent of the particular form shown, and is hence intended to be included by the term sectoral appearing in the speciflcation and claims, since whatever the form only a certain sectoral portion of it would be the effective or necessary part and all beyond the limits of that part would be mere surplus. It will further be seen that the notches f and f in the inner end of the unlocking cam-lever may be omitted without materially aecting the operation of the device, though their presence is desirable. It will further be obvious that the cam-recess i in the locking-arm of the knuckle may be located in the opposite side of that arm with suitable modification of the unlocking cam-lever, in order to permit the proper engagement,or that this recess,whether on the one side or the other, may be supplanted by a rib ofthe proper form; and, in general, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to any special form in the mere matters of detail in the case ot' ordinary mechanical features, since these may be readily varied by any one possessed of the requisite mechanical skill.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car-coupler, the combination with the bifurcated draw-bar head and the knuckle pivotally mounted therein, of a locking-bar, substantially uniform in cross-sectional dimensions throughout its length, extending vertically, in the path of the locking-arm of the knuckle, through openings in the upper and lower jaws of the draw-bar head of such form as to permit the locking-arm in its movement to describe the sector of a circle, a spiral shoulder on the locking-bar, and a corresponding spiral shoulder on the draw-bar head with which the said shoulder on the locking-bar engages, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination with the bifurcated draw-bar head provided with the knuckle E pivotally mounted therein, of a locking-bar, substantially uniform in crosssectional dimensions throughout its length, extending vertically, in the path of the locking-arm ot' the knuckle, through openings in the upper and lower jaws of the draw-har head, of such form as to permit the lockingarm in its movement to describe the sector of a circle, a spiral shoulder on the locking-bar, a corresponding spiral shoulder in the drawbar head with which the shoulder on the locking-bar engages, and means for raising and turning the locking-bar to release the locking. arm, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination of the bifurcated draw-bar head having sectoral openings through its upper and lower jaws and with the knuckle E pivotally mounted in the draw-bar head, of a locking-bar extending vertically through the said sectoral openings in the path of the locking-arm of the knuckle, and provided with a spiral shoulder engaging with a corresponding spiral shoulder in the draw-bar head, whereby in the act of coupling the locking-arm strikes, turns and raises the locking-arm, and the latter after it has been cleared by the locking-arm returns by the action of gravity to its normal position, thereby locking the knuckle in coupled position, of means for releasing the locking-arm from engagement with the locking-bar to permitl uncoupling, comprising a cam-lever engaging the locking-arm to turn and raise it, and means for operating the said cam-lever, substantially as described.

4. In a car-coupler, the combination with the bifurcated draw-bar head provided with sectoral openings through its upper and lower jaws and with a knuckle E pivotally mounted in said jaws and provided on its locking-arm with a cam-guide, of alocking-bar extending vertically through said sectoral openings in the path of the locking-arm of the knuckle, and provided with one or more spiral shoulders engaging one or more spiral shoulders in the draw-bar head, whereby in the act of coupling the locking-arm strikes, clears and is in turn locked by the locking-bar, of a carnlever F pivotally mounted in the draw-bar head between the fulcrum of the knuckle and IOO IIO

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the locking-bar, and in position to engage the the bifurcated draw-bar head having sectoral openings through its upper and lower jaws, and with the knuckle E pivotally mounted therein, of the locking-bar C in the path of the locking-arm ot' the knuckle, having spiral shoulders Z and Z engaging with corresponding shoulders in the draw-bar head, whereby in the act of coupling the said locking-bar is engaged by the said locking-arm and turned and incidentally raised thereby, and when cleared descends by gravity and serves as a lock, in combination with a spiral shoulder k upon the said locking-bar, Which is engaged by the end of the locking-arm of the knuckle, substantially as described.

6. In a car-coupler, the combination with the bifurcated draw-bar head provided with sectoral openings through its upper and lower jaws, and with the knuckle E pivotally mounted in the draw-bar head and provided upon its locking-arm with a cam-guide, of the locking-bar C extending th rough both sectoral openings and provided with spiral shoulders Z Z and la engaging corresponding spiral shoulders@ p and ein the draw-bar head, unlocking cam-lever F pivotally mounted upon the lower jaw by a spindle h extending through the same and adapted at its inner end to engage the locking-bar, and at its outer end to engage the cam-guide on the knuckle, an arm G rigidly mounted upon the lower end of the spindle h, and a hand-lever H pivotally connected to the arm G, substantially as described.

7. In a car-coupler, the combination with the bifurcated draw-bar head provided with sectoral openings through its upper and lower jaws, and with the knuckle E pivotally mounted in the draw-bar head and having the curved edgej and the cam-recess i upon its locking-arm, of the locking-bar C extending through both said sectoral openings and retained therein by a. stop m and provided with a lifting handle o and with spiral shoulders Z Z and 71e engaging corresponding spiral shoulders pp and c in the draw-bar head, and with the spiral shoulder 7c to engage the free end of the locking-arm of the knuckle, unlocking cam-lever F pivotally connected to the lower jaw of the draw-bar head by means of lthe spindle 71, passing through the same and having at its inner end the notchesf and f and at its outer end the stud g, arm G rigidly connected to the spindle h below the draw-bar head, and hand-lever H pivotally connected to the arm G, substantially as described.

EZRA N. GIFFoRD.

In presence of- M. J. FROST, J. H. LEE.

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